How to Handle Rabbits

This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010.

There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Rabbits can be a bit less comfortable with human contact than some other domesticated animals. Handling them requires careful socialization. You need to slowly and carefully introduce your rabbit to handling from an early age. When picking up your rabbit, you need to strike a careful balance between holding them so tightly that they become nervous and holding them so lightly that they are able to escape and fall.

Do not try to corner your rabbit. If you push your rabbit into a corner it might be easier for you to catch it, but your rabbit will also feel nervous. This can cause your rabbit to struggle and scratch.[2]

Signs that your rabbit may be stressed include teeth grinding, rapid breathing, grunting, and salivation.

Get down on your rabbit’s level. Squat so that you don’t tower over your bunny. This will calm it down. It is also a good position from which to interact with with your rabbit for a bit before picking it up.[4]

Wear a long-sleeved shirt. Rabbits often resist being picked up by scratching and clawing. This can cause you to drop your rabbit and hurt it. Wear a long sleeve shirt so that your rabbit won’t be able to hurt you.[7]

Scoop up your rabbit with a hand under its torso. Your bunny will want all 4 of its feet securely pressed against you. Place 1 hand underneath the rabbit, securing all 4 of its feet against your arm as if the bunny were standing on your arm.[8]

Place your thumb around the rabbit’s side and your forefinger around its chest to hold it secure.[9]

Never try to pick up your rabbit by an extremity, like its ears, tail, or the scruff on the back of its neck.

Hold your rabbit as gently as possible. If your rabbit isn’t socialized and resists being held, you might need to hold it somewhat tightly against you. However, if your bunny is cooperative, you can reduce its stress levels by holding it more gently against you.[11]

Squat when placing your rabbit back on the ground. When you are done with your rabbit, slowly bring it closer to the ground by squatting. Do not lean over and drop your rabbit suddenly. Place it on a surface that is ground level, flat, and not slippery.[12]

Wrap your bunny in a towel if it struggles. If your rabbit squirms or scratches when you hold it, you can make a “bunny burrito” to protect yourself and keep the rabbit calm. Lay out a towel on the ground and place the bunny in the middle. Wrap the towel closely around the base of the rabbit’s neck and bring the side flaps back to the rabbit’s shoulders. Wrap 1 side of the towel around the bunny and tuck it under the bunny’s abdomen, then wrap the other side around the bunny and tuck the towel underneath the rabbit.[13]

Start holding your rabbit at an early age. Your bunny is more likely to get accustomed to human contact if it is socialized from an early age. If it isn’t held a lot at an early age, it might never take to being held.

Hold your bunny in a kneeling position when you start. Your bunny will be less nervous if you don’t hoist it up too high in the air. You should start by squatting close to the ground and holding your rabbit in your arms, just a foot or so off the ground. As your bunny becomes better socialized, you can try to stand up normally with your bunny.[15]

This also makes it less likely that your rabbit will hurt itself if it jumps out of your arms.

Lay blankets or towels below you so that your rabbit has a cushion and some traction if it jumps out of your arms or falls.

Cover your rabbit’s eyes. If you cover your rabbit’s eyes with a towel or your arm, this can calm it down. This is a good way to start socializing your bunny. Be careful, however, that you don’t obstruct the rabbit’s breathing.[16]

Closely supervise children when they are with a rabbit. Any bad experiences with humans can reverse your work to socialize the bunny. Be careful about allowing children or strangers to hold the rabbit. If they do, be sure to explain explicitly how the rabbit should be held and supervise the process closely.[17]

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010.

To handle your rabbit, scoop your hand under its torso so that all 4 of its feet are on your arm. Then, wrap your other hand around its backside to help support it. Do this from a seated position the first few times, in case your rabbit squirms too much and you drop it. While you’re holding it, try to be as gentle as possible unless it struggles. If your rabbit isn’t used to being held, you should also wear a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms from its scratching. When you want to put your rabbit back down, squat and carefully lower it back to the ground.